Card index



J. C. RUSSELL May 8, 1923..

CARD INDEX Fi led Feb. 9. 1921 3 wow K01 Patented May 8, 1923.

v UNITED sraras JOSEPH CLIFFORD RUSSELIi, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

cairn INDEX.

Application filed February 9, 1921. Serial No. 443,559,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn CLIFFORD RUSSELL; a citizen of the United States, and

a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Card Indexes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description'of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to indexes and more particularly to improvements in card indexes of the visible type in which cards overlie each other in aholder or slide.

One object of my present invention is to provide .an index of the character specified, which shall be so constructed as to facilitate the insertion ofthe card supports and cards into the slide or holder; permit a, single card and its holder to be removed from said slide or holder without releasing other card supports from their guides in the slide or holder, and to so construct the device that accidental displacement of the card holders will be avoided. I

With this and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a perspective view of a card indeX'embodying my improvements; Flgure 2 1s a longitudinal sectional view; Figure 3- is a transverse sectional view and Figure 1- is a separate view of one of the movable card supports and a card attached thereto.

1 represents a frame or holder which may be constructed of sheet metal and in the form of a slide to enter a suitable case or cabinet. The frame or holder may comprise a base plate 2 having side flanges 3 at its longitudinal edges; a flange 4 at one end and a flange 5 at its other end. Flanges 6 and 7 project inwardly from the upper edges of the respective side flanges 3 and cooperate with the latter and the side portions of the base plate 2, to form guide ways for the end portions of movable card supports 8,each being constructed as hereinafter described. In order to reduce resist.

ance to the free movements of the card supports and the cards connected therewith, head 9 m y be provided on the base plate on which said card supports m y rest and move,said beads being preferably madeV- shaped in cross section and may be formed as integral parts of the base plate.

The flange t at the upper end of the frame orholder may be provided with an inwardly projecting flange 4 and the free ends of a bow spring 10 secured to a follower 11, may bear against the end, flange't. This follower may consist of either atubular or a solid rod and is movable at its ends inthe guideways formed by the side flanges3, 6, 7.

An inclined platform 12 projects from the lower flange 5 of the frame and extends over a portion of the base of the frame, said platform having a depending'flange 13 at its free upper end. Theplatform 12 serves to so support the cards near the lower end of the series that the cards of the, index may lie flat;

The side flange 6 of the frame or holder 1 is provided with a plurality of slots 6 to facilitate the insertion and removal of the card supports 8.

Each 1 card support 8 comprises a cylindrical tube splitfllongitudinally and'hav'ing a flange 14 projecti'nginwardly from one'of its edges, saidflange being out of line with theaxis of the tube and underlying the other edge 15, of the tube. Each index card, 16, is bent near its upper edge whereby a flange 17 is formed and disposed at an angle to the body of the card. The index card is inserted into the tubular support 8 from one end thereof so that its upper portion willbe disposed between the edge 15 and the inwardly projecting flange 14 and so that the flange 17 of the card will project past the free edge of the flange 14: and be disposed at substantially right angles thereto,as explained in my copending application Serial No. 416,377.

Each tubular card support 8, is cut away at one end, whereby a curved lug 18 is formed to pass through one of slots 6 of the frame flange 6. I

In inserting a tubular card support (with a card attached thereto) into theframe or holder 1, one end of said tubular support will first be inserted into the guideway un der the flange 7 and then the curved lug 18 at the other end of said holder will be passed through one of the slots 6 of flange 6 and enter the guideway under said flange,- said lug becoming d p sed in said.

guideway between two slots 6 in the flange 6. I

My improvements not only facilitate the insertion and removal of card supports without necessity for hinged or other movable parts of the frame or holder, but the card supports will be held against accidental displacement. The device is simple in construction, light in weight, and occupies very small space.

Ha iting tullydescribed my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

1. In a card index, the combination of a frame having fixer guideways at respective sides, the top wall of one of said guide- Ways having slots, and card supports having end portions movable in said guideways under the top walls thereof,-one end portion of each of said supports being movable through one of said slots of the slotted top wall. to enter the guideway under the same after the opposite end portion of said support shall have been inserted into the opposite guideway.

2. In a card index, the combination or a frame having guideways at its sides, the top wall of one of said guideways having slots, index cards, supports for said cards movable at their end portion in said guides, each card support having a curved extension movable through one of said slots and into or out of one-of said guidevvays.

3. In a card index, the combination of a frame having guideways at the sides, the top wall of one of said guideways having slots, index cards, tubular supports for said cards movable at their end portions in said guideways, reach tubular card support having an :integral extension movable through one of said slots into or out of one of said guideways.

4:. In a card index, the combination of a frame comprising a base portion and flanged side portions forming guideways, index cards, and cylindrical supports for said cards having end portions movable in said guideways, and beads rising from the base portion of the frame and supporting the cylindrical card supports over said base portion.

5. In an index, the combination of a sheet metal frame comprising a base portion hav ing flanged edges forming guideways, the top wall of one of said guideways having ,transverse slots, index; cards, cylindrical metal supports for said cards movable in said guideways, each 0t the cylindrical card supports having an integral extension at one end movable through one of said slots.

6. In a card index, the combination of a sheet metal frame, comprising in a single piece, abase member, flanged side'portions tormin 'uideways, the top Wall of one of said guideways having transverse slots,

flanged ends, and an inclined platform in tegral with one of said flanged ends and overlying the base member, index cards, and supports for said cards having end portions movable in said guideways, one end portion of each support forming an extension of the card support and movable through one of said slots.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH CLIFFORD RUSSELL.

Witnesses:

ROBERT C. RUssELL, HELEN M. ELLING. 

